Large bowel transit times using radiopaque markers in normal cats

Seven normal, young adult, female cats each had its colon evacuated with warm-water enemas (at 24 hours, 12 hours, and one hour) before oral administration of a gelatin capsule containing 20 radiopaque markers to determine normal colonic transit times. Abdominal radiographs were taken twice daily until all markers were expelled. There were no significant differences between animals or trials (p = 0.05 or less). Markers accumulated in the first section of large bowel within eight hours. Evacuation from the colon took another 40 hours. Cecum (right side midline), left side midline, and rectum were defined radiographically. This study establishes large bowel transit times in normal cats and provides the basis for similar evaluation in constipated cats.